Could the big man from Phoenixfind a new home in the Windy City?
The Phoenix Suns have recently assembled a new “Big 3” with the acquisition of All-Star wingman Bradley Beal. With high-usage and high-scoring superstars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker commanding plenty of touches, this may leave big man Deandre Ayton as the odd man out.
In addition, the Suns also sent away numerous players to acquire Beal, leaving them with not too much depth. That said, it may make sense for the Suns to trade Ayton to recoup some players and round out their rotation. One place that Ayton may very well land—if he were to get traded—is Chicago, and his fit with the Bulls could be a perfect one.
Center upgrade
The Bulls have had Nikola Vucevic as their starting center for the last few seasons. Though he’s a double-double machine of the highest order, the 6-foot-10 big man’s fit with the team’s perimeter players was questionable, given his defensive inadequacies. This is where someone like Ayton could make more sense. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report wrote that Chicago could be a place that welcomes Ayton if Vucevic and the Bulls can’t agree on a new contract.
“Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Portland Trail Blazers could use an upgrade at center. Add the Chicago Bulls to this list if Nikola Vucevic leaves in free agency,” wrote Swartz.
“Ayton wasn’t used in the deal to acquire Beal from the Wizards, so expect the Suns to use him in a trade to fill out the roster with additional depth and possibly a new starting point guard,” the report added.
Younger and more athletic
The Bulls need an infusion of youth and pop at the center position, and Ayton could provide both. He’s just 24 and provides a shot of athleticism that the Bulls desperately need.
Ayton averaged 16.7 points and 10.4 rebounds in his five seasons with the Suns. While he has yet to develop into an All-Star big man, he would still be a great addition to the Bulls. He would bring some much-needed defense and energy to the team, as well as a post presence on offense.
